Developing new housing
Fictional decision exercise. A fictional council has £15 million for infrastructure. Each option produces a different number of homes; housing construction costs are outside this table. The options are alternatives; do not add their benefits together.
| Option | Capital cost (£ million) | Homes enabled (Estimated count) |
|---|---|---|
| Brownfield quarter | 12 | 480 |
| Greenfield edge | 9 | 600 |
| Town-centre conversion | 7 | 260 |
Options
Brownfield quarter
12
Reuses developed land close to services
Contamination remediation can increase costs
Greenfield edge
9
Provides more space for larger developments
Consumes farmland and may increase car journeys
Town-centre conversion
7
Uses existing buildings near transport
Conversion constraints reduce the number of homes
Stakeholder evidence
Tenant group: Affordable homes are needed.
Farmer: Land supports food production.
Planning officer: Schools and transport need capacity.
Use the resource
Read possible decision reasoning
A strong response can favour any listed option when its priorities and evidence are consistent. Compare costs with the available budget, use the homes enabled measure accurately, and discuss at least one limitation. Explain why an alternative is less suitable for the stated priority. Estimates do not guarantee outcomes; identify further information needed before a real decision.